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Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford

Pushkin

We tell our children unsettling fairy tales to teach them valuable lessons, but these Cautionary Tales are for the education of the grown ups – and they are all true. Tim Harford (Financial Times, BBC, author of “The Data Detective”) brings you stories of awful human error, tragic catastrophes, and hilarious fiascos. They'll delight you, scare you, but also make you wiser. New episodes every Friday.

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    Missing Fish and Fatal Feasts: Ritual and Ruin at the Sun King’s Table

    In the gilded court of Louis XIV, 17th Century France, manners are everything. Where to sit, how to eat, what to wear - any misstep is costly. No one knows this better than François Vatel, the greatest party planner in all of France. Tonight, Vatel must deliver the ultimate banquet, a chance for his master to rise through the ranks and win the king's favour. But where there is opportunity there is danger, and even one mistake could prove deadly. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    42 min

  2. 26 SEPT

    Don't Panic! Douglas Adams' Guide to Tomorrow - with Arvind Ethan David

    Writer Douglas Adams, best known for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, used science fiction and satire to warn us about potential dangers in our future, from artificial intelligence to social media and animal extinction. In this Cautionary Conversation, Tim is joined by Arvind Ethan David, author of the new audiobook Douglas Adams: Ends of the Earth, to discuss why Adams was in the business of telling Cautionary Tales, his worries (and fixes) for the future, and what we all have in common with a sentient puddle. For more information go to timharford.com. Douglas Adams Ends of the Earth on audiobook: https://www.pushkin.fm/audiobooks/douglas-adams-the-ends-of-the-earth The Hitchhikers Immersive evening in London: https://riversidestudios.co.uk/see-and-do/the-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-185234/ Become a Cautionary Club member on Patreon for bonus Cautionary Tales episodes, behind-the-scenes chats, newsletters, and more. To join Pushkin+ visit pushkin.fm⁠ or the show page on Apple. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    38 min

  3. 19 SEPT

    A Deadly Day at the Races: What Radical Protest Can and Cannot Do

    After years of campaigning for votes for women, the Suffragettes emerge at the turn of the 20th Century. Their motto, 'Deeds Not Words', heralds the start of more radical actions, including fire bombing, civil disobedience and hunger strikes. Emily Davison is a passionate rebel, but she pushes at the limits of what her allies find acceptable. History remembers Emily for her final act, but have we got everything about the story right? WARNING: This episode discusses death by suicide. If you are suffering emotional distress or having suicidal thoughts, support is available - for example, from the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US, or the Samaritans in the UK on 116 123 Read more about Tim's work at http://timharford.com/ Become a Cautionary Club member on Patreon for bonus Cautionary Tales episodes, behind-the-scenes chats, newsletters, and more. To join Pushkin+ visit pushkin.fm⁠ or the show page on Apple. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    41 min

  4. 12 SEPT

    True Lies and Genuine Fakes

    In 1998, an art gallery gets a mysterious phone call. The caller claims they have been fooled by a master forger and that many of their prized paintings are fakes. Or are they? This is the story of the life and lies of the notorious Eric Hebborn. What did he do, and what does that teach us about how we can root out deepfakes without undermining our trust in reality? For a full list of sources, see the show notes at timharford.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    41 min

  5. 9 SEPT · BONUS • PUSHKIN+ ONLY

    Subscriber Exclusive: Finding Grace in a Burger Bun: An Incrediburgible Quest

    This episode is available exclusively to Cautionary Club members and Pushkin+ subscribers. To join the Club and get access to ad-free listening, behind the scenes content and bonus episodes, head to www.patreon.com/cautionaryclub. To join Pushkin+ visit pushkin.fm or the show page on Apple. Dick and Mac are content with their lives: they enjoy making burgers by day and stargazing by night. Ray Kroc is a workaholic chasing success at any cost. When the brothers' folksy charm collides with Kroc's ruthless ambition it will birth one of the best known brands in the world. This is the story of two very different approaches to making hamburgers - and two very different approaches to making money. For a full list of sources, see the show notes at timharford.com

    40 min

  6. 5 SEPT

    Stalling for Survival - A Lonely Fight Against a Deadly Medicine

    In 1960, FDA scientist Frances Oldham Kelsey is tasked with approving an application for a mild sedative to be sold in America. The drug is popular across Europe and is touted to be free of side effects, so this should be a routine job. But something doesn't sit right with Frances and she starts digging for evidence to support her suspicions. As the pharmaceutical company pushes for speedy approval, Frances discovers the drug's devastating impact. Katie Hafner, host of The Lost Women of Science podcast, joins Tim to explain why America should remember the woman who kept Thalidomide off the market. To join the brand new Cautionary Club and get access to exclusive episodes and ad-free listening, head to patreon.com/cautionaryclub  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    39 min
  7. Announcing: The Cautionary Club

    2 SEPT · BONUS

    Announcing: The Cautionary Club

    Do you want more Cautionary Tales episodes in your life? Do you want access to behind the scenes stories and bonus conversations with Tim? Do you want to support us in making the show? We're excited to announce the brand new Cautionary Club on Patreon. Subscribers will gain access to exclusive content every month, including a newsletter uncovering new details behind a recent episode, a conversation between Tim and one of the team, and a full length Cautionary Tale.  The Cautionary Club is also going to be a space where you can discuss episodes with other members, vote for topics you want to hear about, ask questions, and be the first to hear any Cautionary Tales news. Join today at patreon.com/cautionaryclub  Our weekly free episodes of Cautionary Tales will continue to drop every Friday, and, if you are a Pushkin + subscriber, you will continue to gain access to exclusive shows from across the Pushkin network. If you are interested in switching your subscription, or have any questions, please email info@pushkin.fm  To join the club today, head to patreon.com/cautionaryclub See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    2 min

  8. 29 AUG

    Disaster Favours the Daring: Shipwreck at Honda Point

    In 1923, legendary navigator Captain Dolly Hunter led a squadron of warships into America’s worst peacetime naval catastrophe. The mission was supposed to be a speed trial, a display of the squadron’s skill. But it ended in a maritime pile-up, with some destroyers stranded on rocks, others sinking fast, and deadly oil leaking into the Pacific Ocean. How? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    40 min
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About

We tell our children unsettling fairy tales to teach them valuable lessons, but these Cautionary Tales are for the education of the grown ups – and they are all true. Tim Harford (Financial Times, BBC, author of “The Data Detective”) brings you stories of awful human error, tragic catastrophes, and hilarious fiascos. They'll delight you, scare you, but also make you wiser. New episodes every Friday.

Information

  • Channel
    Pushkin
  • Creator
    Pushkin Industries
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2025
  • Episodes
    201
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    2025 iHeartMedia, Inc. © Any use of this intellectual property for text and data mining or computational analysis including as training material for artificial intelligence systems is strictly prohibited without express written consent from iHeartMedia
  • Show Website
    Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford
  • Provider
    Pushkin Industries Inc.

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